The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered the most distant galaxy ever confirmed, named JADES-GS-z14-0, which appears as it existed just 290 million years after the Big Bang.
The discovery of this surprisingly luminous and massive early galaxy challenges theories about how galaxies formed in the cosmic dawn
JWST has been repeatedly breaking its own records for the most distant galaxies since beginning operations in 2022

more about:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjeenyw8rd2o

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/early-highlights/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-finds-most-distant-known-galaxy

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[–] Drunemeton 94 points 5 months ago (4 children)

“A redshift of one corresponds to a distance of more than 10 billion light-years. JWST’s studies showed that JADES-GS-z14-0 has a redshift of 14.32, the highest ever recorded.”

Wow!

“Usually gases like oxygen show up only after large groups of stars have lived their lives and died in supernova explosions,” Hainline says. “So seeing oxygen in a galaxy this young is like if you are an anthropologist and you find an enormous, ancient city that has evidence of iPhones.”

That just boggles the mind!

Can’t wait to get more data on this wee, spry, bizarre find.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 5 months ago (2 children)

It is an entire, whole ass galaxy. I do not think it fits any definition of wee.

[–] Drunemeton 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Ha ha ha!

Well…

We both saw the photo in the article. It’s a big photo, and they had to enlarge the teeny tiny spot this galaxy was in, then blow it up and actually add an arrow to point it out.

Seems pretty wee to me!

pikachupokerface.webp

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

Ok Dougal, one last time. Small… Far away…

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Size is relative and our perception of time (and the way we measure it) requires us to use numbers so large, most people can't really visualize at the scales we are talking about.

Off the top of your head, can you visualize how much space 10 billion apples would take up? Sure, you could calculate it, but it's likely not something you could instantly visualize in your head.

Honestly, I don't know how to solve for that problem.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

More education tbh. Don’t see any other solution.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Being able to visualize how much space something needs only comes with experience, so as long ad you don't want students to work with 10b apple on a regular basis, education isn't really able to change this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What’s your solution then?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

As I said. The only way to be able to visualize extreme numbers of anything is, to work with extreme numbers of it, but this isn't a viable solution for everything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

So your answer is. Education. Got it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Why? Earlier galaxies had often bigger stars and supergiants & co. don't live long but fuse to oxygen too, no?

[–] Fades 1 points 5 months ago

142.3 billion light years 🤯

[–] Confused_Emus 1 points 5 months ago

If you enjoy the topic, my favorite astrophysicist, Dr. Becky, covered this discovery in her latest video!